My trip to London and Paris was absolutely amazing! Paris was just mind-blowing! The food was amazing, the sites were amazing, the people were…great. lol. I don’t speak French, so I don’t really know if they are amazing, but everyone was so friendly and happy and awesome. I definitely want to come back, probably in the spring or summertime so I can catch the flowers and the gardens of Versailles. But in the meantime, let me give you some pictures to hold you over!

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Yesterday, my cousin and I went to see an event planner to discuss her possibly helping us coordinate my mom’s birthday party. She had some really great ideas right off the bat and she helped my cousin during her wedding (so I already had some great recommendations about her).

I really liked her point of view about certain things and it would be fantastic if I could have someone else be in charge of most of what this party will entail. I really just want to sign the checks and be done with it. Seriously!

She works with brides, mostly, but has done regular event planning as well. Her website: mybridalbudget.com has a lot of information about her past events as well as photos. She also had them available for our free consultation.

I realize I will have to be involved, but after talking it over with my sister and cousin last night, we’ve decided to go with her, which hopefully will minimize the workload. I hope she can deliver all she’s promised!

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If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Now that my cousin’s wedding is over and she has settled into her new life, I can focus on my mother’s 50th birthday party.

When she turned 45, she let be known that she was expecting a surprise 50th birthday party. I laughed her off, but I knew I would do it for her. My mother is A LOT of things, but I can’t think of anyone else who deserves this more than her.

We are going to go hard or go home on this one people. I’m talking about formal invitations, catering and speeches and playing dress up. It’s going to be epic. And since I can’t talk about this with my mother, I’ll talk about it with you!

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My dad is not okay. I didn’t realize it would hit home as hard as it has. He’s in the hospital, sick. With what? I don’t know. I have no one to contact to ask these things to. My mom left for Haiti this morning and I’m sitting on pins and needles, waiting for her to call and tell me what’s going on.

I know I’ve said it before, but I’m so sick and tired of people getting sick and dying around me. I am ill-equipped for all of this. I’ve lost my grandparents and now my dad, who’s no spring chicken, is so badly ill that he had to go to the hospital? I have never gotten a message about him being sick before. And I don’t know whether that’s been because they didn’t know how to contact me (highly unlikely) or because it was never serious enough to call me.

I just want to be reassured. That is all I’m asking for. I just want to know what’s going on so I can plan according…

It started out better than perfect. I got a ride to the airport and arrived super early. I discovered that my flight was delayed by half an hour, but Cely was there and we went to grab something to eat. Eli and Frankie showed up soon afterward and we headed over to board the plane. Lo and behold, I see some girls I went to high school with and spent the wait chatting about life in general.

We get on the plane and managed to get seats next to each other (which is amazing since the plane was packed!). I end up sitting next to this really interesting guy and spent the trip having deep conversations about which celebrity is hotter and Sudoku. More

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So, I posted the wedding speech that I wrote, but never got to read, last week. My cousin, my best friend, my much, much better half, finally got married last week Monday. Not even a natural disaster could prevent it from happening.

And I have to say, it was beautiful. The church was gorgeous and the reception ended up being an intimate sit down dinner by candle light. But that is not the way it began… More

What can I say, today of all days? Martine, you are now Mrs. Stefanovic. The tall, lanky girl who I’ve known since I was two years old has grown up into a beautiful woman, starting a new chapter in her life. Finally going somewhere that I cannot follow. I want to say, “stop, don’t go, stay here with me where you belong.” But as I stand here and look at you and your husband, I realize you are
exactly where you belong.

Is this not what we dreamed about? Played Barbie, pretending that we were the ones in pretty white dresses, marrying our Ken?

And Nick, I can’t remember a time as an adult that I didn’t know you; that you were not a part of my life. I’ve always felt that you were family, and now we’re related by marriage, and it’s so, so awesome! I feel like at this point I should insert a warning to treat her like the Queen she deserves to be treated as, but you do that already.

So, because I’m going to need a drink if I’m ever going to let you take Martine away from me, I would like everyone to raise their glass to Martine and Nick. I love you both so very much. Have a wonderful life together.